Pvt operators seek Bengal govt nod to run state-owned buses via PPP model

A body of private bus operators in West Bengal has urged the state transport department to allow its members whose 15-year-old vehicles need to be scrapped by August to opt for a public-private-partnership model in which they can run state-owned buses against a monthly payment.

The association sent a letter to Transport Minister Snehasis Chakraborty on Tuesday to allow such operators to opt for the PPP model, known as Bus Franchise Operators (BFOs), on a bigger scale and save them from financial losses, Joint Council of Bus Syndicate General Secretary Tapan Banerjee told PTI.

In compliance with a Calcutta High Court order, 15-year-old buses and other commercial vehicles are required to be phased out from city roads.

The buses, which hit roads in 2009 or 2010 will stop running in 2024 or 2025.

Banerjee said that as part of the PPP model, private operators can run non-operating state-owned buses and pay Rs 14,000 a month to the transport corporation concerned.

Already private operat